“Government trying to defend the indefensible” - Tutu

BY CHARL BOSCH - JUNE 1, 2015

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has hit out at Police Minister Nathi Nhleko clearing President Jacob Zuma of any wrong doing relating to the R246-million spent on security upgrades at is Nkandla home, describing it as giving a new meaning to the word embarrassment.

“Instead of setting a good example, our public representatives are humiliating themselves, our country and our people by trying to defend the indefensible, “News24 quoted Tutu as saying over the weekend.

“It is unconscionable to spend hundreds of millions of rand on the president's spurious 'security' needs. The power of the government to manipulate justice comes at great cost to our reputation, our development potential and our hard-won self-belief”.

Last week Thursday, Nhleko stated that Zuma could not be expected to pay back a portion of the money spent on the upgrades as per Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Secure in Comfort report, as the additions of a swimming pool, chicken run, cattle kraal and private cinema were essential to the President’s safety.

Madonsela has however accused Nhleko of not taking any of her findings into consideration, saying that his only role was to determine the amount Zuma had to pay back and not comment on her existing findings.